The term side hustle means a job that you do during your spare time to make extra money, whether your goal is to achieve financial independence or you have more modest financial goals. Side hustle jobs are a great way to earn passive income to pay off student loan debt, afford a dream vacation, or create a steady stream of passive income that allows you to live more comfortably.
While it may seem difficult to find side hustle jobs that pay well enough for you to do these things, the Internet has opened up a world of opportunities. There are so many hustle ideas out there that it can get a little daunting thinking about it. If you are looking to earn extra money then this article about side hustle jobs that pay well can help you.
How Much Does a Side Hustle Job Pay?
The highest-paying side hustle jobs pay between $12 and $40 per task or hour, as you’ll see below. Some side hustles, however, pay as little as a few cents per page or task. Compensation generally depends on several factors, including the nature of the work and how payment is structured.
When doing your own research, you will want to pay close attention to the average rate of compensation for the hustle you’re interested in, as well as the typical range. If you’re struggling to find information, you can explore lists of the best part-time jobs. The rates of pay for these and many other kinds of side hustles tend to be publicly available.
How to Get a High-Paying Side Hustle Job
You can find a side hustle job that pays well in as few as three steps. Let’s explore these steps below.
Step 1: Gain Applicable Skills and Experience
A good starting point is to decide what you enjoy doing, are good at, or have experience in. If you have a side hustle in mind that requires additional training, you can learn new skills by taking in-person or online classes. The recent boom in distance learning courses means that you have loads of affordable training options to choose from.
Step 2: Update Your Resume or Write a New One
Once you have decided what you want to do and have filled the gaps in your skillset, it’s time to update your resume. If you’re unsure where to start, there are plenty of free resume templates and resume tips online that you can consult.
Step 3: Apply for the Job and Prepare for Your Interview
Now you’re ready for the application and interview process. You can prepare for the interview by doing research on the hiring company as well as the industry. On the day of your interview, make sure you are rested, well-groomed, and presentable.
When the questions start coming your way, be yourself, show your best attributes, and focus on your strengths. That said, you should also be aware of your weaknesses and be prepared to explain how you’re going to develop them into strengths. This will show that you are proactive and committed to self-improvement. If all goes well, you will be contacted with a job offer.
What Side Hustle Jobs Pay the Most? The Highest-Paying Side Hustle Jobs You Should Consider
Below is a list of 10 side hustle jobs that pay well. Each entry is accompanied by information about pay and job growth rates, companies that are hiring, and an overview of what the side hustle entails.
Nanny
- Average hourly wage: $15
- Job growth: 8%
- Companies hiring: Educated Nannies, Genuine Nannies, The Nanny League, The STEM Nanny Company
Nannies are in charge of looking after kids or adults who cannot care for themselves. You may be asked to help with homework, provide entertainment and transportation, cook meals, or do household chores. One requirement for this role is CPR certification and first aid training. If you love caring for children or people in general, this could be the perfect side hustle for you.
Tutor
- Average hourly wage: $20
- Job growth: 16%
- Companies hiring: Transparent Language, TutorMe, Remind Tutoring
Teaching online or in-person can be a great way to earn extra income. As a self-employed tutor, you will have to find your own clients, schedule your own sessions, and do your own lesson planning. If you go to work for someone else, the tutoring company may schedule your clients and provide you with lesson plans and support materials.
Most tutoring companies want candidates to have a degree of some sort, but some are willing to hire any tutor who is a native speaker and can communicate clearly. If you enjoy speaking to people of all ages and from different cultures, then this can be a fun side hustle.
Freelance Writer
Working as a freelance writer is a great gig if you like doing research, synthesizing information, and using language to organize concepts and ideas. This kind of side hustle is more popular than ever, with the Internet bringing freelancers and clients together.
There are enough freelance writing gigs out there that you can try to catch on with a company that focuses on a topic you are interested in, whether that be gaming, health and wellness, or something else. In many cases, you do not need a degree to become a freelance writer.
Virtual Assistant
A virtual assistant typically completes a wide range of tasks for a professional, a company, or several companies. Working as an independent contractor, they manage social media accounts, event planning, calendars, appointments, emails, reports, reservations, and simple digital marketing tasks.
A high school diploma or equivalent is usually required. All virtual assistants should have excellent oral and written communication skills, self-motivation, discipline, creativity, the ability to make effective decisions, and the curiosity and ambition to learn new skills.
Graphic Designer
- Average hourly wage: $26
- Job growth: 3%
- Companies hiring: Udemy, Fidelity Investments, TMF Health Quality Institute
A graphic designer puts together images, typography, or motion graphics to create designs for brochures and other advertising materials. They mostly work for publishing and media companies. Through their designs, they increase sales for the companies they work for.
Graphic design is an excellent career, especially for innovative thinkers, and people who love art, technology, and communicating verbally and in writing. This kind of freelance job is the perfect hustle for digital nomads since, with a computer and the right software, you can create your designs from anywhere.
Real Estate Agent
- Average hourly wage: $25
- Job growth: 4%
- Companies hiring: Cambridge Property Lettings, Keller Williams Realty, Bridgeline Solutions
A real estate agent is a person who represents the seller or buyer of real estate. This job only requires a high school diploma or the equivalent. So, if you love interacting with people, admiring homes, and thinking about investment opportunities, this may be the hustle that will help you reach your monthly income goals and achieve financial independence.
Technical Support Engineer
As a part-time technical support engineer, you will answer calls to resolve technical challenges that arise in a user’s software or hardware systems. These professionals need to know how to develop, enhance, and support various types of applications. They should also have great communication, creative thinking, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
Freelance Web Designer
- Average hourly wage: $37
- Job growth: 13%
- Companies hiring: IT Consultis, Kate Creative Media LLC, InGroup
Freelance web designers are people whom companies hire to create websites. The websites they create add to the company’s brand awareness and drive customers to invest in the brand’s products and services, thereby increasing profits.
Skills needed for this kind of side hustle vary depending on the client’s requirements. Some clients require a degree while others prioritize experience and skills. The best web design bootcamps are one excellent way to increase your skills and accelerate your career in web design.
Affiliate Marketer
An affiliate marketer is someone who earns commission by making partnerships that drive traffic or sales to a client’s products and services. By linking clients with more customers, the affiliate marketer helps them increase revenue.
Some companies require affiliate marketers to have a marketing or business degree, but this is also a good side hustle for Instagramers and other people with viral influence. If you are popular on social media, you can get paid to share affiliate links with your followers.
Digital Marketer
- Average hourly wage: $20
- Job growth: 10%*
- Companies hiring: Amazon Web Services, Fire and Spark, Nike
Digital marketers are like affiliate marketers, but they have more well-rounded skillsets. They use digital channels to entice customers, increase brand awareness, and promote a company’s products and services. Many digital marketers create email advertising campaigns, and most of them are expected to give reports that show their clients a decent return on their investment.
Qualifications needed for this side hustle are a Bachelor’s Degree in Digital Marketing or Business and knowledge of video and picture editing software like Adobe. If this sounds like something you’d be interested in, it may be just the thing for you to reach your financial goals.
"Career Karma entered my life when I needed it most and quickly helped me match with a bootcamp. Two months after graduating, I found my dream job that aligned with my values and goals in life!"
Venus, Software Engineer at Rockbot
*This statistic is grouped with Affiliate Marketer on BLS
Best Side Hustle Jobs: Top Companies that Hire for Side Hustle Jobs
When the time comes to select the appropriate side hustle, you will need to find companies that hire for these kinds of jobs. This can be a little confusing and overwhelming. To help you find a lucrative side hustle, we’ve put together some information about a few companies that are worth considering.
- Amazon. Amazon is the world’s largest online retailer and a prominent cloud services provider. They also hire remote or part-time staff for various positions, making it a good choice for your next hustle idea. According to Statista, Amazon employs about 1,298,000 people, and they’re always looking to hire new workers.
- Alphabet. Alphabet is the parent company of Google, YouTube, and more. It is a massive company that hires part-time and remote workers by the hundreds. If you have tech skills, this is a good way to pick up an additional source of income.
- Meta. Mark Zuckerberg’s brainchild is still best known as Facebook, the social media giant that connects people from around the world. Meta is also the parent of Instagram and WhatsApp. There are plenty of part-time and freelance opportunities at Meta, especially for people interested in digital marketing.
- Keller Williams Real Estate. Keller Williams Real Estate is an international real estate company. It rents, leases, and sells all kinds of property around the world. Their openings for part-time real estate agents are worth checking out.
- IT Consultus. This digital agency specializes in creating custom ecommerce solutions. They work with big-name brands like GAP, Zara, and Porsche. If you have an eye for design and a solid web design portfolio, now may be the time to apply for a freelance gig with IT Consultis.
Where to Find a Side Hustle Job
There are many ways to find profitable side hustle jobs to earn extra money. With the Internet at your fingertips, you have immediate access to job boards, company career pages, and online communities. But if you prefer, you can also pursue in-person networking opportunities and visit hiring companies to deliver your resume in person. We survey the three best options below.
Job Boards
A job board is a website that allows companies to advertise their vacancies and search for resumes. It also allows individuals to create profiles and search for job posts that are relevant to them. Some of the top job boards are Indeed and Glassdoor. Any of these can reveal opportunities that you might have otherwise not had access to.
Online Communities
Online communities like Facebook and LinkedIn are efficient ways for people to link up over shared interests. It should come as no surprise that many people have had success using these platforms to secure profitable side hustles. Career Karma is also a good community, especially for people interested in tech. Its resources could help you get a job at Amazon, Alphabet, or Meta.
Physical Locations
Delivering your resume in person is often a great idea. That way, you can meet the hiring manager and try to make a good first impression. On the downside, it takes time to travel from office to office, and not every hiring manager will be available to speak with you. As a result, this option can be time-consuming and inefficient.
Skills Required to Land Your First Side Hustle Job
While there are many different kinds of side hustles, employers of all kinds are always on the lookout for certain skills and attributes. Below are a few skills that can be applied to any kind of side hustle.
Communication Skills
Communication is such a valuable skill that it can make or break a business. Even if you’re a good communicator, however, it isn’t always clear how to list communication skills on your resume. Once you’ve passed that test, your ability to communicate will also help you gather your thoughts, check your understanding, and express yourself clearly during the interview.
Organizational Skills
Employers love organized people. Organizational skills will help you arrange your schedule without overextending yourself or double-booking, ensuring that you have everything you need to meet a client’s demands and complete a project on time. If you can prove you have these skills, your prospective employer will view you as a cost-effective hire.
Adaptability
Being adaptable is a big plus, especially with new ideas, information, techniques, and technologies emerging all the time. Being able to change direction at will is essential, whether you are trying to stay relevant in your current industry or learn a new side hustle.
Can a Coding Bootcamp Help Me Get a Side Hustle Job?
Yes. With the tech industry experiencing record-breaking growth, the demand for tech skills has never been higher. The best coding bootcamps can get you the training and soft skills you need to cash in on the opportunity. In a matter of months, you’ll be equipped to land a side hustle doing programming, web design, or digital marketing work for a company in need of your skills.
Is a Side Hustle Job for Me?
Yes. If you need extra income, have some extra time and a unique skill set, and know how to manage your time efficiently, then you should look for a side hustle job. It will allow you to pay off your debt, afford a dream holiday, or simply improve your current lifestyle.
Side Hustle Jobs that Pay Well FAQ
The most lucrative side hustle jobs are in the tech industry. There are other high-paying opportunities in bookkeeping and consultancy.
It varies. Which side hustle you pursue, how good you are at it, and how much time you can invest are all factors that will affect your income stream. For example, a nanny who earns $12 per hour and works 10 hours per week would earn an extra $480 each month. A digital marketer making $68 per hour and working 10 hours per week would earn $2,720 each month.
You would typically do your side hustle job in your spare time, outside of your regular working hours. If you work 9 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday, then you could work on your side hustle for a few hours every evening or on the weekends. You could also use lunch breaks or your commute to do your side hustle.
Highly logical people are typically best suited for tech roles. According to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, the ISTJ personality type is the most logical. These folks are introverted (I), have a keen sense (S) for the physical world, think (T) clearly about things, and are good and decisive judges (J) of what’s right in a given situation.
The best career matches for people with ISTJ personalities are information security analyst, database administrator, data analyst, computer network architect, software developer, web developer, and Java developer.
About us: Career Karma is a platform designed to help job seekers find, research, and connect with job training programs to advance their careers. Learn about the CK publication.
